Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: October 2, 2018
• Invested on: June 13, 2019

Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Compeau, M.B., C.D.
Barrie, Ontario

On March 14, 2017, off-duty Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Compeau helped rescue two people involved in a multi-vehicle accident caused by black ice near Saint-Zotique, Quebec. The ensuing pileup caused by the crash drenched the area in gasoline, which immediately caught fire. Covered in fuel, PO2 Compeau rushed to the fiery scene and pulled a semi-conscious driver from the burning cab of a truck. He then ran back and located a second victim on fire, sprawled on the ground. Using snow and ice, he helped extinguish the flames and, with the assistance of a bystander, brought the victim to safety.